The primary goal is not to match China ship-for-ship, but to render the island too costly to assault. Mobile coastal missile batteries are a fraction of the cost of the amphibious transport ships and guided-missile destroyers they target.

‘Kill zone’ in Taiwan Strait: Why Taiwan is expanding its anti-ship arsenal against China, which missiles form its core

Iran's anti-ship missile arsenal included the 30-km Nasr and the 1,000-km Abu Mahdi. While these weapons once threatened Arabian Sea shipping, recent US and Israeli strikes have systematically destroyed most of these coastal facilities.


‘Beyond the Strait of Hormuz’: How far can Iranian anti‑ship cruise missiles actually strike?

Navies counter Iran's sea-skimming anti-ship missiles using a layered defence. Airborne radar detects threats early, while electronic jamming, decoys, and kinetic interceptors like the SM-6 and CIWS destroy the weapons before impact.

How can all Iranian anti‑ship missiles be stopped?

Hypersonic missiles operate above Mach 5, allowing them to cover vast distances in a fraction of the time taken by traditional cruise missiles. Two main types exist. 

'The weapon warships can’t outrun': How hypersonic anti-ship missiles are changing naval power faster than expected

Anti-ship missiles have evolved from WWII radio-guided weapons to hypersonic missiles like BrahMos. These advanced weapons change naval combat tactics and power balances worldwide. 

How anti-ship missiles are changing the future of naval warfare

A US fighter aircraft shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist areas of Yemen towards the USS Laboon, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Sunday (Jan 14).

US claims it shot down anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi area of Yemen targeting USS Laboon